[Michael Pliska]

I have wondered about this rule too. About 22 years ago I asked an NHRA official and was told that they didn't want it used to make big top-end speeds to take the stripe (this was in the era that S/G cars were running around 133 mph). Many of us had mid-low 9 second cars with a throttle stop coming on in 2nd gear, so we had an override button with as much acceleration as most N2O systems. I remember helping a big-name S/G racer from the area when he broke a trans and needed to change it between rounds, and I saw the hidden N2O system in his car (solenoids were hidden in the lower A-pillar area, tubes apparently ran into the intake through a larger hose disguised as a vacuum hose). I looked at him and laughed, never said another word about it.

In the Alston Super Series (which included standard .90 classes as well as 7.90, 11.90 & 12.90), there was no prohibition on it in the non-NHRA .90 classes (I checked specifically). There were a few users, such as doorslammers running 7.90 class. I put a system on my 11.90 car for a race at a non-factored track that was known for very high corrected altitude readings. The car would barely run 11.90 at that track, and I planned to use it if the air got too bad. I did use it one pass in the worst part of the day, and it looked like I was on my way to a loss (car would have run a 12.00 or so), but I gave it a tiny shot and took the stripe. A couple of guys went to the tower and tried to protest (I had previously cleared it with both the division director and the track).

Regards,